FRESHWATER FISHES
E. J. Crossman and E. Holm
SUGGESTIONS FOR LOCATIONS OF ONGOING ASSESSMENT
Considerable advantage in regard to the maintenance of stocks and biodiversity can be obtained by involving existing programmes in Ontario and Québec in ongoing assessment which would monitor the status of fishes in this Ecozone.
- Sixteen Canadian Areas of Concern (AOC's) have been established on the Great Lakes
(Hartig et al 1996). These consist of the following: Lake Superior-Thunder Bay,
Nipigon Bay, Jackfish Bay, St. Mary's River; Lake Huron-Spanish River mouth, Severn
Sound, Collingwood Harbour; St. Clair River; Detroit River; Lake Erie-Wheatley Harbour;
Niagara River; Lake Ontario-Hamilton Harbour, Metro Toronto, Port Hope, Bay of Quinte;
St. Lawrence River-Cornwall. Hamilton (1987) and Dalziel (1988) reported on surveys
in the AOC's and the Ministry and Conservation Authorities have conducting additional
monitoring programs since the late 1980's. This activity would be coordinated with
the Great Lakes Section of the OMNR (B. Beecher, Peterborough and D. P. Dodge, Maple
Ontario). Any similar activity in Québec would be coordinated with the Ministère de
l'Environnement et de la Faune.
- In Ontario, the existing programme referred to as "Fishery Management Plans" (FMP's)
established by the OMNR could be utilized for the assessment of waters tributary
to the Great Lakes. The FMP's have been established by OMNR to describe existing
environmental conditions and fish communities in Great Lakes tributary watersheds, identify
problems and potential improvements, and to define management goals. The potential
role of similar functions of the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Faune in Québec, should be investigated in regard to the area of the Ecozone in that province.
- Non governmental agencies such as the Biodiversity units in university departments and science museums in Ontario and Québec could be invited to establish fixed locations for repeated sampling on a multi-year basis especially in areas missed by 1. and 2. above, or to follow the status of populations of a small group of indicator species.